Ceiling fixture hangers



J. l. LEVINE CEILING FIXTURE HANGERS March 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 7, 1954 FIG.|.

INVENTOR JOSEPH L LEVINE ATTORNEY March 15, 1955 J. LEVINE CEILING FIXTURE HANGERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1954 m Rll W 9 m M 6 MW n I s A 3 w a a ma nM U m FIG. 8.-

United States Patent CEILING FIXTURE HANGERS Joseph I. Levine, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 7, 1954, Serial No. 473,705

2 Claims. (Cl. 248-343) This invention relates to ceiling fixture hangers, and is particularly directed to the type of hanger that is suspended from a ceiling outlet box for supporting a lighting fixture from the lower portion thereof and holding a canopy against the ceiling at the upper portion thereof.

It is primarily within my contemplation to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive hanger that can readily be assembled to outlet boxes of various sizes, and firmly maintained in place against the canopy.

In the attainment of the above-mentioned objectives it is a further object of this invention to avoid certain disadvantages and shortcomings of conventional hanger devices, such as inadaptability for ready adjustment to outlet boxes of different depths, costly components not adapted to low-cost stamping fabrication, expensive screw-machine parts, complicated assembly, and insecure attachment.

In the last-mentioned aspect of my invention it is my objective to provide a device whose components can be manufactured by stamping presses, and which presents a positive grip that heretofore has been attainable only by the use of relatively costly screw-thread fittings.

Another object of my invention is to provide a ceil ing fixture hanger which will firmly hold the canopy in pressing engagement with the ceiling, which cannot accidentally slide downwardly and thereby prevent a separation of the canopy from the ceiling, and which will be of attractive appearance.

It is also an important object of my invention to enable an assembly thereof with a canopy and ceiling outlet to be effected in a minimum of time. And in this aspect of my invention it is my objective to avoid the time-consuming turning operation required with hangers provided with threaded components, and at the same time to retain the advantages of such screw-fitted devices with respect to positiveness of securement between said threaded components.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a form of my hanger invention shown operatively supporting a canopy and a fixture chain, a fragment being broken away for clarity.

Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1 taken substantially along line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of Figure 1, with the fixture chain removed.

Figure 3a is a fragmentary view substantially like that of Figure 3, but showing the relative positions of the locking collar and loop member prior to the operative turning movement of said collar to bring it into the locked and assembled position of Figure 3.

Figure 3b is a view like Figure 3a, but showing the locking collar in an intermediate position during the operative turning movement thereof.

Figure 4 is a section of Figure 1 taken substantially along line 4-4.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the interengageable locking collar and slotted closure member.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a portion of Figure 2, showing the position of the annular flange of the locking collar with respect to oppositely positioned notches in the loop member of my invention.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of a somewhat modi- 2,704,195 Patented Mar. 15, 1955 fied form of my invention, a fragment being broken away for clarity.

Figure 8 is a sectional top view of the device of Figure 7, the hanger being shown interlooped with a strap, the outlet box not being shown.

Figure 9 is a section of Figure 7 taken substantially along line 9-9 thereof.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the modified locking collar of Figures 7 and 8.

Figure 11 is a section of Figure 7 taken along line 11-11 and showing only the locking collar in relation to the loop member.

The drawings show an outlet box 15 recessed upwardly into the ceiling 16 against which the canopy 17 is held in pressing engagement by certain of the components of my invention, as will more clearly hereinafter appear. Said outflet box has diametrically opposite apertured lips 18 and 19 which support the diametral strap 20 through the screws 21. Punched out of said strap is the central hook 22 from which is suspended the loop member 23, the bottom of which is interlooped with the upper link 68 of a chain which supports a fixture, not sllown-said loop member extending below said canopy Said loop component 23 of my invention is an elongated loop-like frame comprising two opposite parallel sides 24 and 25 with outer notched portions 26 and 27, respectively, and upper and lower portions having transverse bars 28 and 29, respectively, between said sides. The form of loop member 23 illustrated is of flat stamped stock, with an internal substantially rectangular opening 30 defined by the straight parallel sides 24 and 25 and the said transverse bars 28 and 29-the bar 28 having the laterally aligned inner edges 31 and 31 flanking the central upper recessed portion 33, and the bar 29 having the laterally aligned inner edges 34 and 35 flanking the central lower recessed portion 36. Said recessed portions 33 and 36 are proportioned to receive therein relatively thin members, like the hook 22 or link 68-said pairs of inner edges 31, 32 and 34, 35 being proportioned to receive thereover a wider member, such as the central depressed portion 37 of the strap 38 (Figures 7, 8 and 9), to be later referred to.

I11 the preferred form illustrated, the notches 26 are directly opposite and in the same respective planes as the notches 27, as shown in Figure 6. Thus, notches 26a and 27a, on the respective opposite sides 24 and 25 of the loop member 23, are in the plane 39. Although this is the form preferred, my invention is not limited thereto, since the main concept of this aspect of my invention is that there be opposite notches adapted to receive therein the diametrically opposite portions, such as portions 40 and 41, of the annular flange 42 of the locking collar 43, as will more clearly hereinafter appear. The said notches 26 and 27, which can be of any shape, are stamped or cut out by conventional fabrication methods, as distinguished from the special means for producing screw threads, such as are employed in certain conventional devices wherein internally threaded members are in threaded engagement with elements having external screw threads. It is within the contemplation of this invention that notches 26 be so arranged with respect to notches 27 that an oppositely positioned pair of notches will simultaneously receive therein diametrically opposite portions of said flange 42.

The said locking collar 43 is a ring-like member com: prising an annular lateral wall 44 and preferably normal thereto the annular inwardly extending base flange 42 defining a central aperture 45 through which said loop member 23 extends, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 6. The diameter D of the preferably circular inner flange edge 46 is less than the maximum or outermost distance M between said notched sides 24 and 25, so that diametrically opposite portions-such as said portions 40 and 41of said flange 42 will extend into two opposite notches, such as notches 26b and 27b of Figure 6. The arrangement is such that when said locking collar 43 is operatively rotated, in a manner to be hereinafter described, said annular flange 42 will slidably move witlin the opposite notched portions into which it exten 8.

The said base flange 42 contains the preferably ra-.

dial indenture 47 adjacent the inwardly projecting stop 48. The diametrical distance L between the outer wall 49 of said indenture and the diametrically opposite portion 50 of said flange 42 is at least equal to and preferably greater than width M of the loop member 23, and the width W of said indenture is no less than the thickness T of said loop member. The arrangement 1s such as to permit said loop member 23 to slidably enter said locking collar 43, as indicated in Figure 3a.

The slotted closure disc 51 comprises a lateral annular peripheral portion 52, an adjacent annular peripheral portion 53 of smaller diameter, a connecting annular wall 54, and a base 55 embraced by said annular portion 53. Extending through a substantial portion of said disc 51 is the diametral slot 56, said slot extending from the outer periphery of annular portion 52 to a point on said base 55 adjacent the diametrically opposite portion 57 of annular wall 54 (Figure 4). Said annular peripheral portion 52 is proportioned to telescopically fit into the locking collar 43 adjacent the annular wall 44 thereof, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, the base 55 of said closure member 51 being proportioned to extend across the central aperture 45 in said collar. Said slot 56 is proportioned to slidably receive therethrough said loop member 23, so that when the indenture 47 of collar 43 is positioned in aligned relation to slot 56, said loop member 23 can be made to slidably enter the assembly of the collar 43 and slotted closure member 51. It will be noted that when the parts are assembled as illustrated, the base 55 constitutes a complete closure of the lower opening of canopy 17, whereby the internal parts thereof are invisible to an observer below the fixture device.

In operatively assembling my invention, and the parts associated therewith, the canopy 17 is placed against the ceiling 16, whereafter the loop member 23 (the bottom of which is interlooped with link 24) is inserted through bottom opening 17a of the canopy and placed over the hook 22 extending downwardly from strap 20 operatively attached to the outlet box 15. Thereafter the assembly of the collar 43 and disc member 51, with the latter in the upper position and their respective slots 47 and 56 in registry, is slid upwardly along the suspended loop member 23, the latter being disposed within said slots during such operation-said assembly being moved upwardly substantially to the bottom of canopy 17. The collar 43 (supporting disc member 51) is then adjusted until the annular flange 42 thereof is at the level of an adjacent oppositely positioned pair of notched portions 26 and 27 of loop member 23; and then the collar is rotated about a vertical axis, in the direction of arrow A of Figure 3a. This turning movement continues past the position shown in Figure 3b until further rotation is prevented by the engagement of the stop 48 with the adjacent side of the loop member 23, as illustrated in Figure 3. It is at this point that the assembly is complete. It is thus noted that collar 43 is rotatable between the two limiting positions of Figure 3 and 3a.

If the assembly of collar 43 and closure member 51 is operatively brought upwardly to a position in pressing engagement with the bottom of the canopy, causing it to flex somewhat, and then the said assembly operatively turned in the manner aforesaid, the strap 20 will be pulled down and also caused to flex, as shown in Figure 2, resulting in a firm engagement of the collar with the loop member, and of the canopy with the ceiling.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 8 to 11, the same canopy 17 and loop member 23 are employed, but with another form of strap member 38. This contains opposite wings 58 and 59 flanking said centrally disposed portion 37-said wing 58 containing the longitudinal slot 60, and said wing 59 the two adjacent transverse slots 61, to provide for an adjustable attachment to the outlet box 62. The same slotted closure disc 51 is employed-this, however, being disposed 4 within a modified form of locking collar 63. This collar contains the annular lateral wall 64 and the flat annular flange 65 having therein the radial indenture 66. The latter is adjacent the pressed-out or raised stop 67 constituting part of said flange 65.

In this form of my invention, the parts are assembled substantially in the manner above described. Upon an operative rotation of the collar 63 the stop 67 thereof will come into engagement with the adjacent side of loop member 23, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 11, to complete the assembly.

It will be noted that in both forms of my invention the locking assembly is efiected by a straight upward sliding movement of the interfitted collar and closure members 43 and 51 along the loop member 23, whereafter said assembly is completed by a simple rotation or twist of collar 43 until the stop prevents further rotation. There is no time-consuming and tedious screwing of one member upwardly along another, as is required in certain types of conventional devices where it is desired to obtain a positive grip. Yet such a positive grip between the locking collar 43 and the loop member 23 is eflectuated by the inter-engagement of diametrically opposite portions of flange 42 with a co-acting pair of notches in the loop memberthereby constituting a simpler and more positively locked assembly than is effected by conventional friction devices which do not employ screw fittings. And the entire device is obviously adapt able for fabrication by simple, inexpensive manufacturing means, without the use of relatively expensive castings, forgings or screw machine parts.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fixture hanger device for anchorage to a hooked member of a ceiling outlet box and for supporting a bottom-apertured ceiling canopy about the box, the combination of a loop member having two opposite sides and upper and lower portions, said portions being adapted, respectively, for supporting engagement with said hooked member and said fixture, said sides having along their respective outer lateral edges an oppositely positioned pair of notched portions, a locking collar having a lateral annular wall and an annular flange disposed inwardly therefrom, said collar being mounted on said loop member with diametrically opposite portions of said flange disposed within said pair of notched portions, whereby said collar is supported thereby, and a closure member in engagement with said collar and extending transversely thereacross, said closure member having a slotted portion therein, said loop member being proportioned to extend upwardly through said last-mentioned slotted portion and through the bottom aperture of said canopy with said closure member positioned for engagement with the bottom portion of said canopy.

2. In a fixture hanger device for anchorage to a hooked member of a ceiling outlet box and for supporting a bottom-apertured ceiling canopy about the box, the combination according to claim 1, said closure member having an annular lateral wall and a transverse base wall extending thereacross, said lateral wall being telelscopically fitted into the annular wall of said locking col- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,363,935 Vette Dec. 28, 1920 1,778,869 Schockett Oct. 21, 1930 1,891,756 DOlier, Jr. Dec. 20, 1932 1,908,588 DOlier, Jr. May 9, 1933 2,309,143 Sutherland Jan. 26, 1943 

